[Lauren Eggleston]

In Alcott’s satiric writing she does not, I believe, criticize Thoreau directly, but however criticize his extreme ideas. To live with full transcendentalist beliefs would be very difficult to do successfully. Alcott is not suggesting that living minimally or with nature is a bad or wrong idea, but extreme minimalistic and transcendentalist ways are near impossible to achieve in a functioning society. Alcott criticizes the extreme views of the view style minimalistic life style. She spends a lot of time going through all the details of the extreme actions of the pilgrims.

While forming the sort of self-sufficient household, Alcott points out the unhelpful ways of the men. With this the women are showed in a positive independent light that connects to the points made by Scranton.

Thoreau in multiple situations has made clear his approach and opinion on education. He believes that education should be outside of the conforming walls of a formal education. This idea contrasts the ideas of Alcott and Scranton. I believe this to be a difference in perspective. Alcott and Scranton were fighting for equal rights … especially in education. Thoreau takes his opportunity for granted not thinking that to be successful in society an education is needed.

Both Thoreau and Alcott make point to reference the importance of focusing on individuality. With solitude a person can focus on nature and the natural surroundings. Also, these two writers focused on the necessity and did things that worked best for the whole while focusing on the individual. These writing are still obviously relevant in our lives today. When we think about the problem the world has, it comes down to things such as technology, social classes and inequality. All of these things arise from having surplus – a surplus of luxurious things.

[Lauren Eggleston]

While reading some of my classmate’s posts I remembered the discussion we had the first day. The class was asked why did we choose our majors and the majority of us said for a well paying job. For the majority of college students, a job is the only reason for attending a university or college. Students all across the nation are paying over twenty thousand dollars a year for education just to end up in debt. There is one quote in particular that I agreed with during the readings it is “I mean that they should not play life, or study it merely, while the community supports them at this expensive game, but earnestly live it from beginning to end.” (26) I am a foreign language major and the best way that I have studied both French and Spanish is by living in the countries. I agree in that the best way to learn is to live and experience life. As students we waste so much time and effort to study things that don’t interest us or pertain to our lives. However, I do believe that without the institutions of education neither the world nor the United States would be able to function today.

 

As an Education major I have learned about the recent strategies of teaching and there are a few that embody Thoreau’s ideas. Studies have proven the success of students when they participate in something called “discovery learning”. By using this technique the teacher isn’t lecturing and dictating the lesson, but the students are learning the material through exercises and experiences. The technique forms a deeper connection between the students and the material. While this isn’t exactly what Thoreau had in mind, it is taking his “experience” ideas and using them in real world today.

 

I do see changes in the Educational system in the future. Leaders of these intuitions are seeing the success of discovery learning. Today we can see the success of students that do take learning into their own hands. There are countless of examples of successful people dropping out of colleges and making it by discovery learning. Life is so much more that learning within classroom walls. One semester abroad can teach you more than four years at a college. Unfortunately, in today’s society I didn’t see another other option but to attend a college. Thankfully Geneseo offers a high status education for a “low” price- something I am grateful for.

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